The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-23
A NOVEL AND IT'S SEQUEL.

their stories to close at point where the
careers and fate of the various characters are |
not definitely determined, and much is left to |
the Imagination of the reader. That this |
plan, besides being exasnerating to the reader
Of correct tastes, is not unattended with risk
to the writer, is shown by the fact that every
now and then novel ending in vague and
unsatisfactory manner has supplementary
charters added 10y volunteers anxious to rem
edy its deficiencies. Mr. Howells has had
this experience, several Of his stories having
am ateurs who wero not Satisfied with his neb-
ulous conclusions. 1t is not too much to say
that some of these additions have been an
artistic improvement on the original, but that
they were regarded with favor by the novelist
himself is hardly to be supposed. Mr.. Henry
James is the latest one on whom this sort of
patch has been tried. A small pamphlet
entitled another Chapter Of the Bostonians,
by Henrietta James" is being circulated, evil
IDENTIFY with o view of reaching all the
readers of the original work. The
"Bostonians," it viii be remembered, was
narration of the doings Of certain women
commonly described as "strong- minded"
With one or two exceptions, all the female
characters in the book, who were not reform
ers, were excessively frivolous, but the re-
formers and workers for the cause were
very strong-minded, indeed. One and all
were animated with fiery scorn and hatred
Of the male sex after it was out Of petticoats;
but the leading parsonage of the story, Miss
Olive Chancellor, cherished dislike to the
tyrant man that was positively viru!ent,
and could not be brought to admit that any
individual coming under that generic head
had any redeeming traits. Miss Chancellor
was maiden lady of wealth, and it was never
apparent that she had suffered the slightest
personal wrong OF injury from any man; but
she never lost opportunity to rail against
masculine tyranny and oppression. and
against the selfishness, cruelty, brutality and
general inferiority of mankind to all woman
kind. A young and beautiful protege, whom
che was training up to become public
advocate and champion of the cause of woman
was not so fixed in her prejudices. and finally
became so favorably impressed with one Of
the tyrants that she fell in love with and was
persuaded to renounce her 'sacred life
~ al ch
objected to her appearance in public and
fairly snatched her away by force from the
grasp Of Miss Chancellor and the face of a
great Boston audience on the eve of her first
appearance. Mr.. James's story closed right
at this point, leaving the bold abductor in
the attitude of triumphing over the women
who were seeking to emancipate their sister
hood from shackles. He might have known
that tho story would not be allowed to remain
in this shape. Henrietta James who is evil
IDENTIFY none other than the original Of Miss
Chancellor, could not rest under the SANDER
Gus imputation that any, even youthful and
lovely workers in the female vineyard having
succumbed to the Establishments of perfdious
Taen, retired from the labors willingly and
preferred to be tyrannized over Henrietta
is not scoffer and INDUCES in no humor, but
offers a serious sequel to Henry's calum
Nous tale, which is intended to leave very
different impression than the one he sough
TO convey. So far from being happy is The
young woman who has retired from the plaudit
of the public to private life with an audience
of one, that she soon comes to feel that th,
husband who demanded that she should Civ,
up all for him was selfshly unjust He, too
having got her all to himself, as he wished
tires Of her, and, after a brief period Of MARTA
misery, departs for Europe with q rich widow
leaving her to pursue her 'God-g given life
work" in peace. She returns to her patron
Miss Chancellor, is received with open arms
and both derive great comfort from ''pickins
TO pieces the vanished husband. They boil
agree, however, in the remarkable opinion
that the recreant creature, though vile, wa
better than some men, ''inasmuch as som,
men--a good many men--would not hav,
gone away, but would have staid and mad,
tho wife miserable for life." The wife, froet
by her husbands considerate elopement, pres
emily takes up her old work. goes back t
the lecture platform, and, being in he
sphere. is ecstaticaliy happy. 1t will un
doubtedly afford the oppressed sisterhoo
great satisfaction to know that they have
Henrietta who can parry the attacks of an
sHepry" who assails them, and edo him ur,
as this Henrietta evidently feels that she ha
lone
There is one feature in the ''Bostonians,